How to shoot in low light conditions

Posted by on October 30, 2012| Featured

When the sun goes down on Halloween night the ghosts, goblins, spotted puppies and fairy princesses all come out for a fun evening of Trick or Treating. This is a prime time to capture great picture and video footage for your next Halloween-themed muvee.

Shooting in low light can be a bit tricky to master though, so we have some great tips to help you out.

Skip the Flash

Many amateur photographers believe that flash is the key to low light photography, but if you talk to the professionals, they tell a whole different story. Flash can quickly overpower a photo, making the background appear grainy and washing out the subjects. Skip the flash and try to find natural sources for your light, like the flickering glow of a jack-o-lantern or an overhead street light.

There will be times that flash is appropriate, but it isn’t always the right choice. Before clicking on the flash look around for other solutions first; photos with natural lighting will have more depth and artistic appeal than those where the auto flash is used.

Change Your ISO

ISO indicates how sensitive your camera’s image sensor is to light. A higher ISO will be more sensitive to light and better suited to a low light photography situation (like Trick or Treating). Be careful though; when you increase your ISO, you end up with a “grainier” looking photo and end up with digital “noise” in the photo. Using a tripod can allow for slower shutter speeds (and lower ISOs) without getting blurry pictures.

Keep an Eye on Your Progress

One of the big perks of using a digital camera is the ability to see your photos as you go. Low light photography is notoriously tricky and even the slightest variation in light or technique can change the overall look of a shot. See what works and what doesn’t so you can reshoot if needed. In the end the more shots you take, the more you have to choose when it comes time to make your muvee.

Grab your plastic pumpkin pail and your camera and get ready for a fun night of Halloween photography. With these helpful tips you’re sure to get some muvee-worthy shots.

Once you have the perfect footage use your video editing software to turn your Trick or Treating memories into family treasures like this adorable dog-themed trick or treating video: